“The PLN 3.5 million that Deputy Minister Mucha and Lubnauer are talking about went to the budget of the Ministry of Education when I was minister, as a result of our actions. Boasting about something we did, and apparently an accounting firm should have done it today, is inappropriate,” Przemysław Czarnek said in an interview with wPolityce.pl. The former Minister of Education comments on the statements of the deputy heads of the ministry, who today boasted about the effects of the control on subsidies granted for infrastructure and education.
READ MORE: Instead of spending money on education, Lubnauer and Mucha are happy to see the money returning to the ministry. The company conducts “ministerial inspections”.
wPolityce.pl: Katarzyna Lubnauer and Joanna Mucha, deputy ministers of the Ministry of Education, boasted about the effects of the audit of subsidies awarded under your government for the development of educational infrastructure. As they said, the company selected in the tender bids on individual “villas plus”.
Przemysław Czarnek: This was deliberately mud-slinged just before the local government elections. You ladies haven’t invented anything. Each grant agreement was secured by a mortgage and a promissory note. If someone did not perform the agreement in accordance with the subsidy object, he or she was obliged to return the subsidy. Yes, we secured it 100 percent because it was our job. However, the vast majority of these subsidies are implemented correctly. However, there will always be someone who does not execute this contract properly. Therefore, it is a certainty in the contract, so that subsidies can be effectively enforced in such a situation.
Today the deputy heads of education boasted that they managed to recover PLN 3.5 million from donations granted by the ministry during your government.
The PLN 3.5 million that Deputy Minister Mucha and Lubnauer are talking about went to the budget of the Ministry of Education when I was minister, as a result of our actions. In one or two cases we found irregularities. It’s inappropriate to brag about something we’ve done, and an accounting firm should have done that today.
How much has the United Right government spent on expanding, building and modernizing educational institutions?
We spent almost PLN 14 billion on local government education infrastructure, and they spent only PLN 3 billion. We have invested many times more in local government education infrastructure than they have.
One of the accusations we heard at the conference was that during your government the ministry transferred millions of zlotys not only to local governments, but also to foundations and associations.
It was their presidents, Trzaskowski and others from the big cities of the left and Civic Platform, who spent many times more money on foundations and associations. Even disgusting organizations like “Teraz Poliż”, or some feminist associations, PLN 1 million or PLN 5.7 million for a foundation linked to Krytyka Polityczna. In total, they spent more than PLN 1,140 million in 2022, and we spent PLN 40 million. Manipulation follows manipulation.
Why did the money also go to religious associations, which was one of the serious accusations made by Deputy Minister Mucha?
Most of these funds went to schools run by Catholic associations, dioceses or churches, because Catholic schools did not have the opportunity to benefit from the Polish Order, as did local government officials. Children of Polish citizens also attend Catholic schools and are entitled to programs aimed at investing in educational infrastructure.
We heard from the deputy heads of the Ministry of Education that the checks on the subsidies provided will last fifteen years.
There will be no inspections for 15 years, but the contract states that the property must be used for educational purposes for 15 years. The entity receiving the grant commits to using the property exclusively for educational purposes for 15 years. And if he doesn’t, he will have to pay back the money. This is our achievement because we have ensured the sustainability of the project for 15 years. This is again a distortion because we are the ones who secured this project.
It is easy to see that Tusk’s coalition is carrying out the previously planned attack on all subsidy programs. An example is not only the subsidies from the Ministry of Education, but also the subsidies from the Justice Fund. How do you evaluate what has been done with the former min.? Zbigniew Ziobro?
Of course, we are dealing with a broad retaliation program. Until now, before we came to power, left-wing foundations and associations received huge financial resources. They came mainly from city budgets managed by the Civic Platform and the Left. However, when the United Right came to power, we created a relative balance so that all NGOs could obtain funding from government programs. Then a frontal attack on us immediately began, which continues to this day. This is mudslinging for the election campaign. In the case of former min. Zbigniew Ziobro’s procedures were certainly violated by those who entered his house.
Min. Barbara Nowacka has decided that the History and Present subject will disappear from schools. The Grand Orchestra of Christmas Charity will perform.
This is a source of knowledge about recent history for new generations of young Poles. And if you don’t know recent history, you don’t know all the atrocities committed during the Polish People’s Republic by the political predecessors currently in power.
Thank you for the conversation.
Interviewed by Robert Knap
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Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.